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Navigation Technologies Unveils Voice Data For Germany, With Other Countries Soon To Follow
URL(s): www.navtech.com
NAVTECH(R) Maps Leverage Local Knowledge To Create Phonetic Transcriptions For
German Street Names & Administrative Areas
CHICAGO, March 25 - Navigation Technologies, a leading
provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation, Internet / wireless
applications and business solutions, today announced that its NAVTECH(R) maps
are now available in a voice-enabled format for Germany. The United Kingdom,
Italy, France, Spain, and the United States are soon to follow later this year
with initial releases in the native language of each country.
Unlike existing systems that run street name data through software
programs to create text-to-speech, NAVTECH voice data in Germany is developed
based on local knowledge of street and administrative names. Navigation
Technologies' field analyst team has worked with local authorities throughout
Germany, from the tourism board to government offices, to research the correct
local pronunciation of street and administrative area names. This ensures
that systems using NAVTECH voice data recognize street names as popularly
pronounced in addition to recognizing traditional phonetic pronunciation.
This is particularly important in a country like Germany in which many of
the street names are lengthy. Most digital maps use an abbreviation of
lengthy street names. For example, NAVTECH maps frequently abbreviate street
names to fit into a 35-character name field. Systems translating this data
into text-to-speech will result in a mispronunciation of the abbreviated
names.
"The launch of NAVTECH voice data in Germany introduces new possibilities
for voice applications that have already generated a great deal of interest
among some of our most recognized customers," said John MacLeod, Executive
Vice President, North American & World Markets, Navigation Technologies
Corporation.
Systems leveraging the voice data will enable users to speak directly to
their navigation units to tell them where they want to go. The system will
speak back to them, telling them how to get there using actual names every
step of the way. For example, today's systems use generic, audible command
and control directions like "turn right" or "stay to the left." With the
integration of voice data into NAVTECH data, navigation systems will offer
specific spoken directions like "turn left onto "Kurfurstenstrasse" or
"Potsdamer Platz." In this case, "Biegen Sie links ab in den Kuhrfurstendamm"
or "Biegen Sie links ab auf den Potsdamer Platz."
About Navigation Technologies
Navigation Technologies creates digital maps that power navigation and
location-based services around the world.
The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and is privately held. The
Company's 1,200 employees are in over 100 offices in 18 countries.
For more information, visit http://www.navtech.com.
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